July 9, 2008

MHANYS Memo of Support on Housing Wait List Bill

One of MHANYS’ legislative agenda items in recent years has been support of a housing wait list bill that would identify the number of individuals in New York State in need of mental health housing. We have maintained that there are several core populations of individuals in desperate need of housing including: individuals in the correctional system, individuals who are homeless, individuals in poorly run adult homes, individuals misdiagnosed in nursing homes, individuals with psychiatric disabilities living with aging parents, youth in transition with psychiatric disabilities and several other categories as well.

We are pleased that the legislature has passed the Housing Wait List bill in both houses. Now we are urging Governor Paterson to sign the bill. Listed below is our organization’s memo of support put together by MHANYS Public Policy Director, John Richter. If you have any questions regarding the memo, please contact John at jrichter@mhanys.org or me at gliebman@mhanys.org

Memorandum of Support

S6819(Morahan)/ A10079(Rivera P)

An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to the establishment of community housing waiting lists for adults within the office of mental health service system.

The Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS) strongly supports S6819/A10079. This legislation would enable the state to track the wait time for persons with psychiatric disabilities who are seeking supportive, supervised or congregate housing.

An unknown but substantial number of people who have special needs due to psychiatric disabilities are in desperate need of safe and affordable housing. The state currently does not have a reliable way to identify the scope and nature of the problem. Sound housing policy that includes a plan for people with psychiatric disabilities should be informed and directed by a realistic understanding of the true need. Tracking the number of people with mental illness who are in need of appropriate housing seems like a reasonable place to begin. Maintaining a waiting list of people in need of housing is not merely a means of assessing volume, but would provide invaluable information about where housing is needed and in what format.

We should realize how valuable waiting list data would be when coupled with innovative public policy. For example, policies could help to bring affordable housing into closer proximity with independent case managers and viable employment opportunities. More could be done to efficiently utilize New York’s housing overstock, accurately target subsidy vouchers and revisit zoning restrictions. In some cases, the answer to an individual’s housing need may be as simple as matching the person’s need with an appropriate vacancy. Good data is necessary to create a planful process in which state government, local government, housing providers, and advocates can all work together to bring about the changes necessary to secure appropriate housing for individuals with psychiatric disabilities.

MHANYS is committed to meeting the housing needs of people with psychiatric disabilities. We fully support S6819/A10079 because we believe it is a critical and necessary step in that direction.

The Mental Health Association in New York State is comprised of 30 affiliates across New York State representing 52 counties. The organization mission is to provide accessible community based mental health services to all New Yorkers. For more information, contact Glenn Liebman at gliebman@mhanys.org or at (518) 434—0439, ext. 220

In Other News:

We are very pleased that Governor Paterson has promoted two individuals who have been good friends to MHANYS and to the mental health community--Dennis Whalen, as Interim Director of State Operations and Joe Backer as Acting Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services. Congratulations to both of them and we look forward to working with them in their new roles.

GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES ADMINISTRATION APPOINTMENTS

Governor David A. Paterson today announced that he will appoint Terryl Brown Clemons to serve as Acting Counsel, Dennis Whalen to serve as Interim Director of State Operations and Joe Baker to serve as Acting Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services to the Governor.

“I want to thank Terryl, Dennis and Joe for continuing to provide me with counsel, wisdom and guidance. All three individuals have already made enormous contributions to the success of this administration and I look forward to continuing to work closely with them to better the lives of all New Yorkers,” said Governor Paterson. “I am grateful that they have each agreed to take on new challenges in interim capacities.”

Terryl Brown Clemons most recently served as First Assistant Counsel to the Governor. Ms. Brown Clemons was previously the Assistant Deputy Attorney General of the Division of Public Advocacy in the New York State Attorney General’s Office where she supervised approximately 160 attorneys and 220 other employees assigned to the following nine bureaus: Antitrust, Charities, Civil Rights, Consumer Frauds and Protection, Environmental Protection, Health Care, Internet, Investment Protection, and Telecommunications and Energy.

From 2003 to 2004, Ms. Brown Clemons served as Acting Deputy Attorney General of the Division during the Director’s sabbatical. Prior to her appointment as Assistant Deputy Attorney General in 1998, Ms. Brown Clemons served as the Deputy Bureau Chief of the Civil Rights Bureau, and before that as an Assistant Attorney General in the Litigation Bureau.

Previously, Ms. Brown Clemons worked in private practice and also overseas for the Dutch law firm, Nauta Dutilh.

Ms. Brown Clemons received a B.A. from Pace University and a J.D. and MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. As Acting Counsel Terryl Brown Clemons will receive a salary of $178,000.

Dennis P. Whalen was appointed Deputy Secretary to the Governor in January 2007. Mr. Whalen is the chief health care advisor to the Governor and is responsible for policies and operations of the state’s health and human services agencies: Department of Health, Office of Mental Health, Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Office of Children and Family Services, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Office for the Aging, Division of Veterans’ Affairs, Office of Medicaid Inspector General, Office of Welfare Inspector General, Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, Council on Children and Families, and Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.

Mr. Whalen previously served in the Department of Health as Executive Deputy Commissioner, Director of the Office of Health Systems Management, and Executive Deputy Director of the AIDS Institute. He served in policymaking positions at the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, including Deputy Commissioner for Program Services. He began his career in state government in 1974 as a Public Health Educator at the Department of Health.

Mr. Whalen is a graduate of Marist College, and the National Preparedness Leadership Institute at the Kennedy School of Government. As Interim Director of State Operations Dennis Whalen will receive a salary of $178,000.

Joe Baker most recently served as Assistant Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services for Governor Paterson. Previously, he was Health Care Bureau Chief in the Office of the New York State Attorney General from 1991-2006. As Bureau Chief, Joe supervised the investigation and prosecution of cases that addressed systemic problems in the operation of the health care system.

From 1994 - 2001, Joe was Executive Vice President of Medicare Rights Center, which became one of the nation’s leading Medicare consumer organizations during his tenure. From 1989-1994, Joe was the Associate Director of Legal Services for Gay Men's Health Crisis, the world's oldest and largest AIDS service, education and advocacy organization.

He has served as a member of the Standards Committee and the Consumer Advisory Council of the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a Consumer Representative at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the Co-Chair of the Consumer/Patient Rights Subcommittee of the Health Law Section of the New York State Bar Association.

Mr. Baker received a B.A. and a J.D. from the University of Virginia. As Acting Deputy Secretary to the Governor, Joe Baker will receive a salary of $165,000.

“I also want to thank David Nocenti and Paul Francis for their distinguished service to the State of New York. They are both consummate professionals and dedicated public servants and I am grateful for all that they have done for the people of New York and for our State,” said Governor Paterson. “I wish both David and Paul the best in their future endeavors.” These appointments do not require Senate confirmation.

Senate Passes Medicare Bill
July 9, 2008, Rueters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Medicare bill opposed by the White House won final congressional approval on Wednesday with the help of Sen. Edward Kennedy who returned to the U.S. Capitol for the first time since brain surgery last month.

With Kennedy's surprise appearance, he and fellow Democrats managed to overcome a Republican procedural hurdle and pass the measure earlier approved by the House of Representatives.

The bill would cancel a scheduled 11 percent pay cut to doctors who treat Medicare patients. It would also shave $13 billion in reimbursements to insurers such as UnitedHealth Group Inc and Aetna that contract with the Medicare program.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan, Thomas Ferraro and Kim Dixon; Editing by Doina Chiacu)